Please note that the University and the Faculty of Arts have launched a new assessment policy effective as of 1 July 2021. This new policy particularly affects LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS. 

The Faculty policy in relation to late assessment submissions is as follows: 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests, etc. 

To be very clear:

• Unless you have applied for special consideration and had your application approved, for each day your assignment is late, 10 marks will be deducted. For example, if you submit your assignment 7 days late, 70 marks will be deducted, which means you will fail that assignment.
• If your assignment is more than 7 days late (including weekends), you will get 0 for your assignment.

These are serious penalties that will substantially alter your final grade and even determine whether you pass or fail this unit. Please make every effort to submit your assignment by the due date.

If you find you cannot submit your assignment on time, please apply for Special Consideration through AskMQ. Make sure you read Macquarie University's policy regarding Special Consideration requests before you apply: 

https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

Timetable

For details of the unit timetable please go to:  www.timetables.mq.edu.au

Technology & Software

This is a screen production unit. Students may be required to work with a range of the department's digital and mechanical technologies and editing software including still and moving image recorders (eg. Sony HD FS5 & FX6 cameras), sound recorders, digital editing software, image stabilising equipment, tripods, dollies, various portable lighting equipment, etc. Students undertaking independent productions may use their own equipment.

Health and Safety

Students must adhere to health and safety guidelines during workshops and production activities. A safety report is required for all productions. Detailed guidelines will be provided on iLearn.

Attendance

It is a compulsory requirement to attend all production workshops and lectures.

Any absence from a workshop or lecture must be supported by documentation and discussed with the convenor.

Unit Readings

Students are expected to undertake independent research into the creative and technical aspects of screen production. A list of the weekly readings is available from the unit schedule and links to Library eReserve  will be provided on ILearn. The readings are intended only as a supplement to the core screen production work, as well as enhancing your understanding of theoretical and production concepts discussed during the unit.  Although readings will not be assessed from week to week, it is strongly advised that you broaden your understanding of concepts and practices relating to screen production by completing relevant readings, as well as independently researching your specific crew role areas of interest.

The list below includes recommended texts that will be available from the MQ Library.

Directing/Producing                                                                           

Cohen Hart, Juan Salazar & Iqbal Barkat,  Screen Media Arts, Victoria: OUP 2009.

Mercado, G., The filmmaker's eye : learning (and breaking) the rules of cinematic composition, Boston: Focal Press c20011

Profieres, Nicholas T., Film Directing Fundamentals, Boston: Focal Press, 2001.

Rabiger, Michael, Directing: film techniques and aesthetics, Boston: Focal Press, 2003.

Rea, Peter and D. Irving, Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Boston: Focal Press, 2nd ed., 2000

Katz, Steven, Film Directing Shot By Shot: visualising from concept to screen, Studio City CA: Michael Wiese Production in conjunction with Focal Press, 1991

Art Direction

Affron, C & M., Sets in Motion: art direction and film narrative, New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1995.

Gibbs, John, Mise-en-scene: film style and interpretation, London: Wallflower 2002

Editing                                                                                               

Dancyger, Ken, Technique of Film and Video Editing, Boston: Focal Press, 2007. **

Murch, Walter, In the Blink of an Eye, Sydney: AFTRS, 1992.

Sound

Chion, Michel, Audio-vision: sound on screen, New York: Columbia Press, 1994.

Larsen, Peter, Film Music, London: Reaktion, 2007.

Sider, Larry et al (eds.), Soundscape: the school of sound lectures 1998-2001, London: Wallflower, 2003.

Cinematography 

Mercado, G., The filmmaker's eye : learning (and breaking) the rules of cinematic composition, Amsterdam ; Boston : Focal Press/Elsevier, c2011.

Schaefer, Dennis and Larry Salvato, Masters of Light - Conversations with Contemporary Cinematographers, Berekeley and LA: University of California Press, 1984.

Tarkovsky, Andrei, Sculpting in Time - Reflections on the Cinema, London: Faber, 1989.

Continuity

Miller, Pat, Script Supervising and Film Continuity, Boston: Focal Press, 1999.

Rowlands, Avril, Continuity Supervisor, Boston: Focal Press, 2000.

Additional weekly readings will be provided on iLearn.

Week 1

Intensive Week (Online)

28^th, 29^th & 30^th  July 3 pm to  8 pm.  Online via Zoom

This intensive week will combine lectures and workshops to deal with the following topics/concerns:

1. The principles of independent short film production;
2. What’s an idea for a short? Students to pitch production ideas. We will discuss these ideas and select those that will go into production.
3. Production Skills. Student will pitch production skills (crew role). Confirmation of production groups.

Please come prepared to the Intensive with projects that you’d like to pitch.

Week 2

No lectures or workshops. Student to meet as a group to work on at least one aspect of their production together which will be demonstrated in class or online in Week 3. These aspects could include or not restricted to:

• scripting
• performance
• visual/aural style and directing
• cinematography and design
• edit and sound design
• aspects of producing e.g safety

The screen studio and technical support is available (during workshop hours)

Week 3

Workshops in Screen Studio or online via Zoom.

Students will demonstrate what they have worked on as a group the previous week. They will present their findings to class.  We will collectively refine these ideas in class and further their explorations.

Students will report on how they are progressing with their study plans.

 

 

 

Week 4

No lectures or workshops. Student to meet as a group to work on at least one aspect of their production together which will be demonstrated in class in Week 5.

The screen studio and technical support is available (during workshop hours)

Study plans due.

Week 5

Workshops in Screen Studio or online via Zoom. Students will demonstrate what they have worked on as a group the previous week. They will present their findings to class.  We will collectively refine these ideas in class.

Students will report on what they have implemented of their study plans.

Week 6

No lectures or workshops. Shoot and edit online drafts of productions (or sample scenes).

Week 7

Workshops in Screen Studio or online via Zoom. Students to present their onscreen drafts or sample scenes (edited)

Semester Break Week 1

Final preproduction or shoot. 

Semester Break Week 2 

Final preproduction or shoot

Week 8 

No workshops. Last week of shooting. Post production commences.

Week 9 

No workshops.  Consult with convenor on edits.

Week 10 

Workshops in Screen Studio or online via Zoom. Show draft assemblies in class.

Week 11 

No workshops. Edit locked off. Sound design. Consult with convenor on edits

Week 12 

Workshops in Screen Studio or online via Zoom. Show fine cuts in class.

Week 13 

No workshops.  Meetings with production groups to finalise edits.

Week 14 

Export.

Focus Screening - TBA